Historic Antarctic Protection Agreement Becomes Law

From Greenbase <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>
16 December 1997

WASHINGTON, DC, December 16, 1997 -- The Antarctica Project and
Greenpeace today celebrated the final ratification of the
landmark Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctic
Treaty. The Protocol bans mining in Antarctica for a minimum of
50 years and designates the whole continent and its dependent
marine ecosystems a "natural reserve devoted to peace and
science." Entry into force of the Protocol is necessary to
safeguard Antarctica's status as a global wilderness area and
scientific laboratory.

Japan's ratification yesterday was the last needed from all 26
Antarctic Treaty member nations for the Protocol to become law.
It will formally enter into force in 30 days. Negotiated in
1991, it has taken over six years for all Treaty nations to
ratify the Protocol. Prior to Japan, the last nations to ratify
were Finland, United States, and Russia.

For U.S. environmental organizations who have collaborated over
many years, first to oppose the potential opening of mining and
oil drilling in Antarctica, and then to build the strongest
possible international agreement to protect the Antarctic
environment, international ratification is a major victory. The
U.S. ratified the Protocol in April 1996.

Antarctica is the world's last great wilderness, a continent of
awe-inspiring beauty, and a vital international scientific
laboratory," said Beth Clark, Director of the Washington, DC-
based environmental group, The Antarctica Project. "By
establishing high standards for all human activities in the
region, the Environmental Protocol goes a long way towards
safeguarding Antarctica before it suffers from the human
impacts felt over most of the rest of the earth."

"The Antarctic Protocol ratification is especially gratifying
when viewed in contrast to the disappointing treaty on climate
change hammered out last week in Kyoto," said Greenpeace's
Gerry Leape. "It shows that countries of the world can, in
fact, come together to achieve a meaningful environmental
goal." For the last 13 years, Greenpeace has campaigned for
Antarctica to be declared a World Park, conceived to be a
legally enforceable, internationally accepted administrative
system for the protection of the Antarctic wilderness. In 1987,
Greenpeace constructed and maintained the first and only non-
governmental base in Antarctica devoted to research and
preservation of the environment.

The 1959 Antarctic Treaty has kept Antarctica free of conflict,
but human pressures on the continent's unique environment have
been growing rapidly from increased numbers of scientific
research stations and tourist ships. As well as banning all oil
and mineral exploration and mining, the Protocol contains a
series of crucial safeguards on environmental impact assessment
of all activities, waste disposal, marine pollution, specially
protected areas and the conservation of wildlife. A Committee
on Environmental Protection will oversee its operation.

Antarctica represents about ten percent of the earth's surface,
and plays a central role in regulating the earth's weather
patterns and ocean circulation systems. The surrounding seas
support a wealth of penguins and other seabirds, fish, seals,
and whales. The pristine nature of the region provides unique
opportunities for scientific research that is crucial to the
understanding and monitoring of global climate change, ozone
depletion, and atmospheric pollution.

The 26 member nations of the Antarctic Treaty are: Argentina,
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, People's Republic of China,
Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru,
Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United
Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay. [Note: Photos and
video footage of Antarctica are available from Greenpeace.]